Molded plastic snap fastener and strip of components therefor

ABSTRACT

A molded plastic snap fastener including a stud member having attaching legs for insertion in recesses in a backing member, a socket member having attaching legs for insertion in recesses in another identical backing member, and a strip of the above components for forming a plurality of the snap fasteners.

United States Patent Carlile et a1.

1 1 51 3,685,105 1 1 Aug. 22, 1972 [54] MOLDED PLASTIC SNAP FASTENER ANDSTRIP OF COMPONENTS THEREFOR [72] Inventors: Alfred E. Carlile; BernardH. Cox,

both of Meadville, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Tertron Inc.

[22] Filed: Oct. 22, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 868,544

[52] US. Cl ,.24/213, 24/208 A [51] Int. Cl. ..A44b 17/00 [58] Field ofSearch....24/2l3, 208 A, 214, 216, 217,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS,

2,942,748 6/1960 Anderson ..85/39 Jensen ..85/37 Primary Examiner-BobbyR. Gay Assistant Examiner-Garry Moore AttorneyMeech & Field [57] 1'ABSTRACT A molded plastic snap fastener including a stud memberhavingattaching legs for-insertion inrecesses in a backing member, asocket member-having attaching legs for insertion in recesses inanotheridenti cal backing member, and a strip of 'the above componentsfor forming a plurality of the snap fasteners.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDauczz Ian 3.685.105

sum 1 or 2 lNl/EN 7 OR.

ALF/2E E. CARL/LE BERN RD h! COX Maw ATTORNEY PATENTEDMIBZZ m2 3.685;105

SHEET 2 OF 2' A zllllw m Fig-5 84 as 82 y 84 IN V5 N TOR.

ALFRED E. CARL/LE BERNARD H. O

A T TORIVE Y MOLDED PLASTIC SNAP FASTENER AND STRIP OF COMPONENTSTHEREFOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention pertains to molded plastic snap fasteners and moreparticularly to such fasteners manufactured in continuous strip form.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

Conventional snap fasteners are made of metal and are expensive toproduce as well as being unattractive due to the difficulty in coloringthem to coincide with fabric to which they are to be attached. Plasticsnap fasteners have been devised which are less expensive to produce andwhich are easily colored to match various fabrics; however, priorplastic snap fasteners suffer from one or more of the disadvantages ofbeing difficult to assemble, requiring heat for attachment of parts,having attaching parts visible, and requiring bulky hoppers and racewaysfor use with machines for automatically attaching the snap fasteners tofabric. Some prior plastic snap fasteners haven been constructed of apair of backing members which are secured to a socket member and amating stud member with the fabric gripped therebetween. Suchmulticomponent plastic snap fasteners have the disadvantages mentionedabove and further have increased problems concomitant with machines forautomatically attaching the snap fasteners to fabric due to difficultiesin controlling the position of the components being fed to the machineand in permanently and firmly attaching the snap fasteners to thefabric.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to produce molded multicomponent plastic snap fasteners whichmay be easily attached to fabric by automatic machines.

The present invention is summarized in a molded plastic snap fastenerincluding a pair of backing members each having a plurality of recesseswith counterbores therein, a stud member having a bulbous projection anda plurality of attaching legs, the stud member being superposed with oneof the backing members with the attaching legs inserted in. the recessesand distorted to be captured in the counterbores, and a socket memberhaving an aperture therein and a plurality of attaching legs, the socketmember being superposed with the other backing member with the attachinglegs inserted in the recesses and distorted to be captured in thecounterbores, the bulbous projection of the stud member being insertedin the aperture in the socket member to close the snap fastener. IAnother object of the present invention is to use a plurality ofcounterbores in a backing member to distort and capture attaching legsof the stud and socket members of a snap fastener.

A further object of the present invention is to utilize projectingcollars for recesses in a backing member to resiliently grip attachinglegs of the stud and socket members of a snap fastener.

The present invention has another object in the manufacture of acontinuous strip of components for forming a plurality of snapfasteners.

Another object of the present invention is to form the componentsof asnap fastener in a lateral row and to longitudinally align a pluralityof the lateral rows to form a continuous strip.

Some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior art arethat the strips of snap fastener components are compatible with machinesfor automatically attaching the snap fasteners to fabric, that thecomponents are assembled without heat, that the bottoms of counterboresin backing members distort attaching legs under pressure without therequirement of special tools, and that projecting collars aroundrecesses in backing members resiliently grip attaching legs to preventdisassembly.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a stripof components for forming a plurality of snap fasteners according to thepresent invention. v

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the strip of snap fasteners of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a broken side elevation, partially in section, of a backingmember for use with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a broken side elevation, partially in section, of a studmember for use with the snap fastener of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a broken side elevation, partially in section, of asocket'member for use with the snap fastener of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 6 is an offset section ofan assembled snap fastener according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A continuous strip of componentsfor use in assembling a plurality of snap fasteners in accordance withthe present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is indicatedgenerally at 10. The strip 10 includes a plurality of stud members 12arranged in parallel spaced relation with a plurality of backing members14 to define a first half of strip 10 on one side of a centrallypositioned longitudinal bar 16. A plurality of socket members 18 arearranged in parallel spaced relation with another plurality of backingmembers 20 which are identical to backing members 14 to define a secondhalf of strip 10. Stud members 12, socket members 18 and backing members14 and 20 are each longitudinally spaced by pairs of connecting legs 22,24, 26 and 28, respectively. Stud members 12 are laterally spaced frombacking members 14 by pairs of connecting arms 30, and socket members 18are laterally ggaced from backing members 20 by connecting arms Eachsnap fastener includes a stud member 12, a

backing member 14, a socket member 18 and a backing member 20 such thata lateral row of components in strip 10 forms a single snap fastener.The

components of each snap fastener are supported by longitudinal bar 16through pairs of angularly oriented connecting arms 34 and 36 which aredisposed on either side of longitudinal bar 16 and connect with backingmembers 14 and 20, respectively. An upstanding projection 38 extendsfrom a central position on longitudinal bar 16.

The strip is desirably formed by injection of a suitable plasticmaterial, such as nylon or delrin, into a multicavity mold. Longitudinalbar 16 connecting legs 22, 24, 26 and 28, and connecting arms 30, 32, 34and 36 serve to assure that each component of the snap il'agtener iscompletely formed and to strengthen strip Since backing members 14 and20 are identical only backing member 14 will be described, asillustrated in FIG. 3. Backing member 14 has a generally square shapeand an outer face 40 which merges with four sides 42 through a beveledperipheral edge 44. An inner face 46 of backing member 14 has a largeannular recess 48 centrally disposed therein; and four smaller recesses,generally indicated at 50, are arranged at the corners of inner face 46.Each recess 50 has an annular collar 52 therearound projecting frominner face 46, and each recess 50 includes a first bore 54 and acounterbore 56 defining a shoulder 55 therebetween.

One of the generally square stud members 12 is illustrated in FIG. 4 andhas an outer face 58 and a projection 60 which is centrally disposed andprojects outwardly from outer face 58. Projection 58 has a bulbous outerportion 62 having a diameter greater than a neck 64 which connects outerportion 62 with outer face 58. Outer face 58 merges with four sides 66through a beveled peripheral edge 68. An inner face 70 has four solidcylindrical attaching legs 72 arranged at the corners thereof, and eachattaching leg 72 has a pointed end 74. The diameters of the cylindricalportions of attaching legs 72 are slightly greater than the diameters ofbores 54 of recesses 50 in backing member 14.

One of the generally square, socket members 18 is illustrated in FIG. 5and includes an outer face 76 merging with four sides 78 through abeveled peripheral edge 80. An inner face 82 has four solid, cylindricalattaching legs 84 arranged at the corners thereof, and each of theattaching legs 84 has a pointed end 86. The diameters of the cylindricalportions of attaching legs 84 are slightly larger than the diameters ofbores 54 of recesses 50 in backing member 20. A central aperture,generally indicated at 88, extends through socket member 18 and has anannular constriction 90 disposed near outer face 76.

To assemble the snap fasteners of the present invention the attachinglegs 84 of socket member 18 are pierced through a piece of fabric F towhich the snap fastener is to be attached. Backing member 20 issuperposed on the other side of fabric F such that pointed ends 86 ofattaching legs 84 are received in recesses 50. Attaching legs 84 arethen forced into bores 54, which are smaller than attaching legs 84,until pointed ends 86 contact the bottom of counterbores 56. Furtherpressure forcing backing member 20 and socket member 18 together causespointed ends 86 to be distorted to form heads 92 which are captured incounterbores 56 against shoulders 55 to hold the components together.Since attaching legs 84 are slightly larger than bores 54 and sincecollars 52 around recesses 50 project from inner face 46 so as to beflexible, the collars expand during pressure assembly of socket member18 with backing member 14, and the memory of the plastic materialpermits attaching legs 84 to be firmly and resiliently gripped bycollars 52, as best illustrated in FIG. 6.

In a similar manner, stud member 12 is assembled with backing member 14after piercing through a piece of fabric F to which the snap fastener isto be attached. Pointed ends 74 of attaching legs 72 are distorted toform captured heads 94, and collars 52 resiliently grip attaching legs72 due to the memory of the plastic material.

Since the diameter of aperture 88 at outer face 76 is slightly largerthan annular constriction 90, projection 60 is guided into aperture 88,and, due to the resilient memory characteristic of the plastic material,the snap fastener may be closed by forcing projection 60 through annularconstriction 90 in aperture 88 as illustrated in FIG. 6. The centrallydisposed annular recesses 48 in irmer faces 46 of backing members 14 and20 are adapted to, receive any bunching of the fabric to which the snapfastener is attached.

It may be seen that the snap fastener after assembly is aestheticallypleasing since the connections between stud member 12, socket member 18and backing members 14 and 20 are not visible. By providing thecomponents of the snap fasteners according to the present invention inlateral rows and in strip form, the snap fasteners may be easilysupplied to a machine for severing of the connecting arms and legs topermit automatic attachment of the snap fasteners to fabric. Automaticattachment of the snap fasteners is also facilitated by the relativepositioning of the components to simplify superposing of stud members 12and backing members 14 and socket members 18 and backing members 20. Tothis end longitudinal bar 16 and projection 38 provide indexingmeans toassure proper positioning of the strip 10 as well as providingstrengthening means to facilitate handling.

Inasmuch as the present invention is subject to many variations,modifications and changes in detail, it is intended that all mattercontained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

l. A plastic snap fastener comprising a first backing member having aplurality of first recesses therein, said first recesses having firstbores communicating with first cylindrical counterbores, each firstcounterbore having a first bottom wall and having a width greater thanits corresponding first bore forming a first shoulder therebetween;

a stud member having a first inner face, a first outer face, a pluralityof first attaching legs having distortable pointed ends and extendingfrom said first inner face, and a bulbous projection centrally disposedon said first outer face;

said first backing member and said stud member being superposed andadapted to grasp a first piece of fabric therebetween said firstattaching legs extending into said first recesses and being gripped insaid first bores with the pointed ends of said first attaching legsbeing distorted against the first bottom walls into enlarged headscaptured in said first counterbores against said first shoulders;

a second backing member having a plurality of second recesses therein,said second recesses having second bores communicating with said secondcounterbores, each second counterbore having a second bottom wall andhaving a width greater than its corresponding first bore forming asecond shoulder therebetween;

a socket member having a second inner face, a second outer face, anaperture extending from said second inner face to said second outerface, and a plurality of second attaching legs extending from saidsecond inner face;

said second backing member and said socket member being superposed andadapted to grasp a second piece of fabric therebetween, said secondattaching legs extending into said second recesses and being gripped insaid second bores with the pointed ends of said second attaching legsbeing distorted against the second bottom walls into enlarged headscaptured in said second counterbores against said second shoulders;

said bulbous projection of said stud member being inserted in saidaperture of said socket member to close said snap fastener.

2. The invention as recited in claim 1 wherein said first andsecondbores have first and second projecting collars therearound,respectively, and said first and second attaching legs have diametersgreater than the diameters of said first and second bores whereby saidfirst and second collars resiliently grip said first and secondattaching legs respectively.

3. The invention as recited in claim 2, wherein said first and secondattaching legs have solid cylindrical portions with pointed ends, andsaid first and second backing members are identical.

4. A plastic snap fastener comprising a first backing member having afirst inner surface and a plurality of first recesses therein, saidfirst recesses including first collars therearound projecting from saidfirst inner surface and having therein first bores communicating withfirst cylindrical counterbores forming first shoulders therebetween;

a stud member having a first outer face, a first inner face, a bulbousprojection centrally disposed on said first outer face and a pluralityof first attaching legs extending from said first inner face and havingdiameters greater than the diameters of said first recesses;

said first backing member and said stud member being superposed andadapted to grasp a first piece of fabric therebetween, said firstattaching legs being inserted in said first recesses such that saidfirst collars resiliently grip said first attaching legs and said firstattaching legs being gripped in said first bores and distorted to becaptured in said first counterbores against said first shoulders;

a second backing member having an inner surface and a plurality ofsecond recesses therein, said second recesses including second collarstherearound projecting from said inner surface metat sis amass, "rungsecond shoulders therebetween;

a socket member having a second outer face,. a second inner face,anapcrture extending from said second outer face to said second innerface and a plurality of second attaching legs extending from said secondinner face and having diameters greater than the diameters of saidsecond recesses;

said second backing member and said socket member being superposed andadapted to grasp a second piece .of fabric therebetween, said secondattaching legs being inserted in said second recesses to be gripped insaid second bores and distorted to be captured in said secondcounterbores against said second shoulders and such that said secondcollars resiliently grip said second attaching legs;

said bulbous projection of said stud member being inserted in saidaperture of said socket member to close said snap fastener such that theouter surfaces of said stud member and said socket member are directlyabutting;

first and second attaching legs having solid cylindrical portions withpointed ends;

said first and second backing members being identical and having agenerally square shape with said first and second recessess disposed atthe corners thereof, and said stud and socket members having a generallysquare shape with said first and second attaching legs disposed at thecorners thereof;

said first and second counterbores having bottoms for contacting anddistorting said first and second attaching legs.

ormmg

1. A plastic snap fastener comprising a first backing member having aplurality of first recesses therein, said first recesses having firstbores communicating with first cylindrical counterbores, each firstcounterbore having a first bottom wall and having a width greater thanits corresponding first bore forming a first shoulder therebetween; astud member having a first inner face, a first outer face, a pluralityof first attaching legs having distortable pointed ends and extendingfrom said first inner face, and a bulbous projection centrally disposedon said first outer face; said first backing member and said stud memberbeing superposed and adapted to grasp a first piece of fabrictherebetween said first attaching legs extending into said firstrecesses and being gripped in said first bores with the pointed ends ofsaid first attaching legs being distorted against the first bottom wallsinto enlarged heads captured in said first counterbores against saidfirst shoulders; a second backing member having a plurality of secondrecesses therein, said second recesses having second bores communicatingwith said second counterbores, each second counterbore having a secondbottom wall and having a width greater than its corresponding first boreforming a second shoulder therebetween; a socket member having a secondinner face, a second outer face, an aperture extending from said secondinner face to said second outer face, and a plurality of secondattaching legs extending from said second inner face; said secondbacking member and said socket member being superposed and adapted tograsp a second piece of fabric therebetween, said second attaching legsextending into said second recesses and being gripped in said secondbores with the pointed ends of said second attaching legs beingdistorted against the second bottom walls into enlarged heads capturedin said second counterbores against said second shoulders; said bulbousprojection of said stud member being inserted in said aperture of saidsocket member to close said snap fastener.
 2. The invention as recitedin claim 1 wherein said first and second bores have first and secondprojecting collars therearound, respectively, and said first and secondattaching legs have diameters greater than the diameters of said firstand second bores whereby said first and second collars resiliently gripsaid first and second attaching legs respectively.
 3. The invention asrecited in claim 2, wherein said first and second attaching legs havesolid cylindrical portions with pointed ends, and said first and secondbacking members are identical.
 4. A plastic snap fastener comprising afirst backing member having a first inner surface and a plurality offirst recesses therein, said first recesses including first collarstherearound projecting from said first inner surface and having thereinfirst bores communicating with first cylindrical counterbores formingfirst shoulders therebetween; a stud member having a first outer face, afirst inner face, a bulbous projection centrally disposed on said firstouter face and a plurality of first attaching legs extending from saidfirst inner face and having diameters greater than the diameters of saidfirst recesses; said first backing member and said stud member beingsuperposed and adapted to grasp a first piece of fabric therebetween,said first attaching legs being inserted in said First recesses suchthat said first collars resiliently grip said first attaching legs andsaid first attaching legs being gripped in said first bores anddistorted to be captured in said first counterbores against said firstshoulders; a second backing member having an inner surface and aplurality of second recesses therein, said second recesses includingsecond collars therearound projecting from said inner surface and havingtherein second bores communicating with second cylindrical counterboresforming second shoulders therebetween; a socket member having a secondouter face, a second inner face, an aperture extending from said secondouter face to said second inner face and a plurality of second attachinglegs extending from said second inner face and having diameters greaterthan the diameters of said second recesses; said second backing memberand said socket member being superposed and adapted to grasp a secondpiece of fabric therebetween, said second attaching legs being insertedin said second recesses to be gripped in said second bores and distortedto be captured in said second counterbores against said second shouldersand such that said second collars resiliently grip said second attachinglegs; said bulbous projection of said stud member being inserted in saidaperture of said socket member to close said snap fastener such that theouter surfaces of said stud member and said socket member are directlyabutting; first and second attaching legs having solid cylindricalportions with pointed ends; said first and second backing members beingidentical and having a generally square shape with said first and secondrecessess disposed at the corners thereof, and said stud and socketmembers having a generally square shape with said first and secondattaching legs disposed at the corners thereof; said first and secondcounterbores having bottoms for contacting and distorting said first andsecond attaching legs.